Written By Jan Sims
ILDERTON - Council has approved plans to sell the former CIBC building in downtown Ilderton. It will be sold to the company that operates Elite Performance and Injury Clinic, also known as EPIC.
The municipality acquired the property at 13211 Ilderton Rd. in the spring of 2024. Since then, improvements have been made. An internal review found that the building wasn’t needed by the municipality for programs, largely because activities could be centralized at the nearby Ilderton Arena and Community Centre.
A report to council at its May 21st meeting, said EPIC offered a purchase price of $749,000 as well as covering closing costs. The report also says the costs incurred by the municipality after taking over the property came in at approximately $540,000. Proceeds from the sale will be transferred to a municipal reserve fund.
There were seven bids on the property after a request for proposal was issued. Director of Corporate Services, Tiffany Farrell, told council a number of factors went into selecting the successful bid. That included the purchase price, the nature of the business, the contribution to main street and employment possibilities. “The municipality wanted to look at the property as something that could improve aspects of the Ilderton downtown,” said Farrell.
Ward One councillor Jean Coles, who represents Ilderton, applauded the sale. “It is a welcome and valued addition to our main street. Their presence not only brings convenient access to high quality care for residents, but supports the overall health and wellness for our community and we’re happy to have them there,” said Coles.
The CIBC branch closed on April of 2024, with the bank citing changing business conditions and a shift to online banking. The closure was met with strong public opposition at the time, with people lamenting the loss of Ilderton’s only bank.
